It’s hard out there for a model.
The Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, issued a news release yesterday, announcing that she was pursuing judicial relief against two Chicago area modeling agencies, in a nationwide crackdown by the FTC, known as “Operation Bottom Dollar.”
Madigan filed suits against Glamour Model Talent Inc. and its President John Vuolo. She also filed a separate complaint against Latte Model and Talent Agency Ltd. and its owner, Robert Owczarek.
Latte allegedly sold travel packages to customers, promising them a trip to a modeling convention in New York, along with top tier accommodations and career coaching. When push came to shove, nobody met the customers in New York and they did not have access to the convention.
The suits seek injunctive relief from the court, prohibiting the defendants from engaging in modeling and talent services within Illinois. In addition to equitable relief, the lawsuits seek restitution from the defendants for consumers, a civil penalty of $50,000 and additional penalties of $50,000 for each fraudulent violation.
Remember – more people looking for work means more people looking to prey on job-seekers’ desperation.
Related Resources:
- Illinois Attorney General Press Release (Illinois Attorney General)
- State sues modelling agencies over jobs scam (Daily Herald)
- Operation Bottom Dollar (FTC)
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